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North Marion has school board, budget vacancies

Longtime board member Julie Miller will leave in March after serving district for nearly 17 years

The North Marion School District is looking for applicants to fill a soon-to-be-vacant position on its school board, as longtime member Julie Miller is resigning, effective in March.

Miller, who has served on the board for about 17 years, is leaving to spend time with her family as it anticipates the arrival of her first grandchild.

"There's never going to be a good time (to leave)," she admitted. "I feel good about the direction the district is in."

Miller has lived in the North Marion area for 27 years, all of which she has spent volunteering in some capacity. She started out being involved with youth sports, mainly because of her two sons, as well as volunteering on site councils and in the classrooms. It was while she was volunteering with athletics that she was appointed to a vacant school board position, which she continued to fill even after her youngest son graduated in 2009.

Though she was a hesitant volunteer initially — claiming she was too busy — she has found a lot of value in her years on the school board.

"I have really enjoyed it," she said. "I've learned so much about politics and government. ... My favorite part of being on board was learning about best practices in classrooms and watching all the good things happening in the classroom."

She added that she also enjoys attending graduations and seeing the passage of the recent bond measure in November 2017.

"I was co-chair with Rick Naylor for the school bond for the Primary School building, so it felt good to be part of two bonds that passed," she said.

This likely won't be the last the community will see of Miller.

"After 27 years of volunteering, it's a part of me," she said. "I can't imagine not volunteering somehow, if not at North Marion, then maybe for another cause."

Filling a vacancy

The appointed term for the North Marion School Board Position 7 (being vacated by Miller) will begin March 12 and ends June 30, 2019.

For candidacy consideration, interested patrons must:

• Reside within the NMSD boundaries for at least one year prior to the appointment.

• Be willing to participate in monthly board meetings, workshops, training sessions and school district strategic planning sessions.

• Obtain a school board candidate packet from the district office or via downloadable materials via district website at www.nmarion.k12.or.us.

• Submit a letter of interest and application to the NMSD Board of Directors not later than 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23 and return the application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The school board will conduct an applicant screening and may conduct interviews if needed on or before Feb. 26 to select a candidate and make its appointment at the school board meeting March 12.

School board members as a group, not individually, represent all students, staff and district residents with the authority for setting the policy and direction of the district.

The North Marion School Board consists of seven members elected at large by voters to four-year terms. Board members may appoint a board member to serve as a replacement of the remaining term of office of the board member being replaced.

For more detailed information about the work of school boards, visit www.osba.org, or for more information about this position, call 503-678-7100 and ask for Superintendent Ginger Redlinger or Diane Laubsch, executive secretary to the superintendent and board.

Budget committee openings

Additionally, the district is looking to fill three budget committee positions by this Friday.

Establishing the budget is an essential function of the school district and it is made more effective through a collaborative process, a press release from the district stated. The North Marion School Board seeks patrons who are interested in an opportunity to serve as a member of the NMSD Budget Committee.

To be eligible for appointment, the candidate must reside within the North Marion School District boundaries, not be an officer or employee of the district, and be a registered voter of the school district.

Desirable qualifications include: active participation in school activities or committees, civil/community service, ability to solve problems in a positive manner, ability to understand disciplined fiscal management, and ability to attend budget work session and meetings.

Budget committee positions are three-year terms.

There are three positions that are currently open, two of which are full three-year terms (which expire June 30, 2020). The third position was left vacant and will expire June 30, 2019.

In a series of public meetings, the budget committee meets to review, discuss, consider additions or deletions to and approve the proposed budget presented by the budget officer.

Upon completion or deliberations by the committee, the budget is recommended to the board for final approval.

To apply, submit a letter of interest and a completed candidate information form to the board secretary's office via hand-delivery, U.S. mail or email. Applications can be picked up at the district office or downloaded from www.nmarion.k12.or.us.

The board is anticipated to announce the appointment at the Feb. 12 school board meeting.

If you have questions or would like additional information, contact Diane Laubsch, executive assistant, at 503-678-7100 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Lindsay Keefer can be reached at 503-765-1193 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..